| Interview
Tai Chi Saved the Day
Elizabeth tells about a Skilful Application of Tai Chi
– interviewed by Instructor Lis
It is about 6pm one summer’s evening. Elizabeth is
leaving work and walking to her car. She is carrying a slim briefcase containing a few
papers, nothing of value. She notices three men sitting in a car but, unconcerned,
continues on her way. Running footsteps sound behind her. She feels someone try to wrench
the bag from her hand and instinctively grips tighter and pulls back. Then, as she turns
to face her attacker, she thinks "Let go, let it go" and in doing so, yields to
the force, causing the man to fall over backwards. She yells at him, he swears at her,
throws the bag at her and runs to the car.
Elizabeth was able to get the registration number of the car
and thinks her attacker was arrested and charged.
One of the many things Elizabeth likes about Tai Chi is that
she is also learning some self defence skills. She attributes her reaction at that time of
the attack to her Tai Chi knowledge. This is not the primary objective of the classes and
we are certainly not promoting them as such, but Elizabeth feels that it is the
unconscious learning that is the most valuable, the automatic reaction that the slow
repetitious movements are ingraining in the body. She likes the idea of learning that
something extra as well as gaining the more obvious physical and mental benefits.
Elizabeth started Tai Chi over a year ago.
She has always been interested in Eastern philosophies in a general way.
She thinks that there are pieces of other medicines and methods of
treatment that are useful and can be integrated into her working
knowledge. She went along to her first class with a friend, for company
rather than of her own volition, but now Tai Chi night is a priority in
her extraordinarily busy routine.
 Even
after a hectic day when she is tired and drained, Elizabeth said the Tai
Chi boosts her energy and she always feels better for making the effort.
Elizabeth is in the final year of her
studies. She had looked at ways of managing her own exam anxiety,
especially oral exams, and tried a form of Indian meditation. However,
it seemed to focus on external visualisation rather than internal
relaxation. When she came to Tai Chi, it was the movement rather than
the Qigong she found helpful. While acknowledging that she doesn’t practise the form or the
Quiet Standing enough, [after hearing about the hours she works, I’m amazed she can
fit in any at all]. Elizabeth says she likes the Chi Kung but is a more movement oriented
person. "I like the idea of body movement and dance, that sort of thing. I can see
the benefits of slow steady movement on the body. I’m used to accuracy in movement as
I used to swim a lot. I also ran, skied and played tennis."
Some years ago, Elizabeth had a fall which damaged her right
shoulder. The after effects mean she is unable to pursue those active sports because they
all involve repetitive, forceful arm movement, even jogging. She had been on the look-out
for some form of exercise to fill the gap when her friend suggested they go to Tai Chi.
The movement is perfect for her as it not only loosens the tendency to stiffness in the
shoulder, but also places no strain on the area.
How can she practise with the work and
study load she has? "I sometimes manage to get in some practice at lunch
times. There’s a spot near work under some trees. I do Qigong or a bit of the form. I prefer to go through the
whole form in class for the continuity. I like to practise and would do more if I could. I
know I would get more out of the Qigong if I did more. I’m not good at it yet. It
takes a while for me to settle down into that because my mind is so busy. I find the
movements more relaxing. I did some form before my last oral exam because I was really
nervous about it. Doing the movements made a big difference and I felt much calmer going
in."
(This is an actual interview, but the name has been changed
for reasons of privacy.)
TOP |
